About Gnome's coffee
In his normal, civilian life, he's called Lukáš Komůrka, but his friends, acquaintances and even his family know him by his nickname Swem Virdis- a.k.a. the gnome who has experienced the world. We ask him, why this fictitious identity- and where did it originate?
"Swem is not just an identity, Swem reflects what I believe in! It is what characterizes my whole life and all the things that have happened to me. Because all the pits and twists I've experienced, seem even more unbelievable than the fictional reality with a touch of fantasy, into which I like to escape into through the means of my hobby. "
He connected his roastery with the identity of a gnome - a fictional being, whose role he plays in thematically focused events called LARPs. The LARP phenomenon, which appeared in the Czech Republic in the early 1990s and whose players have recently become a frequently inflected subculture, has become his hobby and lifestyle. Why did you choose gnomes?
"Gnomes are creatures that come from folk literature and have their roots in European mythology. From garden gnomes in Germany to leprechauns in Ireland. In history, they were perceived as guardians of the places to which they were tied, which is something I connect to quite strongly. I come from the Jeseníky Mountains and I feel a certain connection to these beautiful mountains, a certain bond that will force me to always return to them in the end, even though I have passed through the world… “
"In a way, I perceive my life as quite unique and the LARP subculture gives me the opportunity to express myself best through its characteristic way of expression."
But what does all this have to do with coffee? Swem is clear on that. He decided to connect something unique he loved with something adult and "responsible" he wanted to do. The link to all this was his travels around the world.
"Coffee is something I got to really know during my travels and I realized that this was something that I encountered every single day. Coffee accompanied me throughout my entire journey, and It was only later that I realised that it was the thing that probably led me — Turkey, India, Nepal, Cambodia, and finally Vietnam — coffee was everywhere and was getting better, and I realized it wasn't just an ordinary drink, but the atmosphere of the place, the magic of the moment, and the feelings of people who cared about that coffee, all poured into a cup of brown liquid. "
"Now when I'm roasting and seeing the coffee beans crackling, I see a lot of those chemicals turning into something as ordinary and beautiful as a cup of coffee. I also see the progress I have made in recent years, and I find it so incredible that I would just like to pass that knowledge on through my coffee. ”
When asked about what lay behind the shift from the idea of "start a roastery" to now, when he's starting his own roastery and e-shop, Lukáš just laughed- apparently, he has had to become a completely different person.
"I started to grow only thanks to the people around me and thanks to the help that was offered to me basically without me having to ask for it. After all, even the name "Gnome’s coffee" came to life thanks to another person - my graphic artist and companion, who saw the potential and desire in me… "
"Were it not for the people who revolved around me and helped me, I would have wrapped it up a long time ago and fled the country. But now I can talk about being a team. I realized how important it is to divide the work between people who are oriented in their field and know what they are doing. "
At first glance, Lukáš is a determined person who is able to sacrifice everything to fulfil his dream. Although he travelled halfway around the world, he eventually returned to his native basin thanks to the bond that binds him to this place. According to him, Olomouc is a beautiful city he can't let go of and he always wanted to create something right here. And his ideology of life?
"If I want this world to be better, then I have to be a role model. I don't want to sit and complain, but get up and go do what I want and prove that it can be done! I believe that one must continue and learn at all costs. And I'm really happy to have this opportunity and that I can offer people something I've created and I'm proud of! "